ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors v8.0: PDF forms, RTL, Moodle integration, local interface themes and more
Following up the release of ONLYOFFICE Docs v8.0, the free ONLYOFFICE desktop app for Linux, Windows and macOS has also been updated bringing RTL interface, local interface themes, integration with Moodle and other useful improvements. Read this article to learn more.
Fillable PDF forms
One of the most significant improvements in version 8.0 is the ability to create complex forms in PDF format and fill them out online, in the ONLYOFFICE desktop and mobile apps.
To create fillable PDF forms, you need to use editable DOCXF templates. This file format allows you to insert interactive fields of different types and adjust their properties to make your forms look the way you like. You can create your own form templates or use the ones that are available if you click the Templates option in the app’s start menu.
Other useful features in version 8.0 are useful hints which appear when you work with DOCX templates and a new option — Date Picker. With this tool, you can select a date when filling out a PDF file.
Bidirectional text & RTL interface
With version 8.0, one of the most awaited features, RTL support, has been added to the ONLYOFFICE editors’ core in beta mode. Now our editors support bidirectional text in documents and presentations. This means that RTL input becomes partially available with some limitations. It will be not enough for full-featured work with RTL-based scripts, but it is a rather big step forward. Also, you can enable RTL interface and test how it will work for you.
This improvement has become possible due to the contribution made by Arabic-speaking members of the ONLYOFFICE translation community. If you would like to help us with further translation into RTL-based languages, you are welcome to join us!
Where to find: Settings -> RTL interface (Beta)
*If you find any issues with RTL support in the ONLYOFFICE editors, please share your suggestions and comments in our forum.
What’s new in spreadsheets
Let’s take a look at some new features in the ONLYOFFICE spreadsheet editor.
Goal Seek. If you want to get a desired output value, you can change the value that drives it with this feature.
Where to find: Data tab -> Goal Seek
Chart wizard. It displays a list of recommended chart types for the selected data and allows you to preview these charts for better understanding.
Where to find: Insert tab -> Recommended Chart
Series. Using this feature, you can quickly create number sequences. For example, you can mark an area of cells and replicate the first one to all others, as well as fill some cells with series of values.
Where to find: Home tab -> Fill -> Series
Besides RTL support, PDF forms and the new features in sheets, the following improvements are also available in the updated desktop application:
- Enhanced Screen Readers;
- Updated UI for plugins;
- New localization option — Arabic;
- Ability to set the final colour for colour-changing animation effects in slides and more.
Read this article to learn more about the features above or watch this video overview on YouTube:
Integration with Moodle
In version 8.0, we have added Moodle, a free and open-source learning management system, to the list of the supported cloud providers. This means that now you are allowed to edit documents stored in your Moodle platform right from the desktop app and use the all features that are available in your desktop suite, including local plugins, fonts, print service and spellchecker.
Where to find: Start window -> Connect to cloud -> Moodle
Password protection for PDF files
In the updated version of ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors, you can now work with PDF files in a more secure way. The app allows you to encrypt your PDFs* with passwords to prevent unauthorized access to your confidential information.
Where to find: File tab -> Protect -> Add password
*Please note that this feature is compatible with all standard PDF files. In our fillable PDF forms, it will become available later.
Quick document creation from the Start menu
When using ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors on Windows, now you don’t need to click the app’s icon on your desktop to create a new document, form template, spreadsheet or presentation. You can easily do this by clicking the corresponding buttons right in the Start menu.
Where to find: Start menu -> ONLYOFFICE
Local interface themes
Another useful improvement in ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors v8.0 is the ability to load local interface themes on Windows and Linux. When you select the Add local theme option in the settings, a new system dialogue will open allowing you to choose a new theme as a JSON file. The selected theme will be copied to the application’s user folder.
Where to find: Settings -> Interface theme -> Add local theme
Get ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors v8.0
The updated desktop app for Windows, Linux and macOS is already available as deb, rpm, exe and dmg packages. Snap, Flatpak and AppImage will be available later.
